Why did St Anne’s College become a champion for women’s education? It’s a story rooted in ambition and a desire for change.
St Anne’s College stands here between Woodstock and Banbury roads. It is next to the University Parks. This college began as part of the Association for the Education of Women in 1879. It was the first institution in Oxford with that aim.
The Society of Oxford Home-Students was its original name. Unlike other women’s associations it had no fixed site. It offered lodgings in houses across Oxford. This allowed students from various financial backgrounds to study here. Accommodation in women’s halls was often too expensive.
In the early 20th century Anglican nuns managed some hostels. They were located in Banbury Road. These hostels remained part of the college until the 1960s. In 1912 the society acquired its first tutors. They taught German history and English Literature. The principals of the women’s societies became the first women to receive degrees from the university in the 1920s.
The current location was chosen in 1937. Construction of Hartland House was already underway. The Society of Oxford Home-Students was renamed St Anne’s Society in 1942. It was given its coat of arms. The name St Anne’s was chosen thoughtfully. Historically there was a chapel of Saint Anne at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin.
The whole student body would gather for termly services there. The college acquired a royal charter as St Anne’s College in 1952. It gained full college status in 1959. This was alongside the other women’s colleges.
Student numbers grew significantly. This called for more accommodation. The Wolfson and Rayne buildings were constructed in 1964 and 1968. St Anne’s made a pivotal decision in 1977. It chose to become coeducational. The first male undergraduates arrived in 1979.
Today St Anne’s College maintains its original aim. It allows women from all backgrounds to study at Oxford. St Anne’s accepts the highest proportion of female students of any Oxford college.
The college grounds house administrative and academic buildings. They also house undergraduate accommodation and the hall. The Dining Hall was built in 1959. It is among the largest in Oxford. It has a capacity of 300. Three meals are served daily on weekdays. Only brunch is served on weekends. The hall is used for college collections and costume parties.
The college library has over 100000 volumes. This makes it one of the largest in Oxford. The original college library is in Hartland House. It now houses the law arts and humanities collections. The new library provides study and seminar spaces. It also provides 1500 meters of bookshelves.
Undergraduates are accommodated on the college site for three years. They are housed in Victorian houses and purpose-built accommodation blocks. The college also provides accommodation for graduate students.
St Anne’s College has relatively few traditions. Due to its secular outlook it doesn’t have a chapel. Formal hall is typically held fortnightly. The college has teams for all major sports. They compete in inter-collegiate tournaments.
As you leave St Anne’s College consider its motto. “Consulto et audacter” means “Purposefully and boldly”. This reflects its commitment to education and progress.